IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (FIV)

With pregnancy rates up to five times higher than intrauterine insemination, IVF is the most effective fertility treatment available today. It is the most common form of fertility treatment and is particularly suitable for women of advanced age, or for women with damaged or blocked fallopian tubes. In addition, IVF addresses the problems of couples whose indication for treatment is male.

We specialize in in vitro fertilization and have earned a reputation as a respected source for this advanced reproductive technology. We have the ability to offer a variety of modifications to the standard IVF process to suit each couple’s individual requirements.

Our IVF experts offer the experience, technology, advice and support to help you with your parenting project. Our ability to handle both routine and complex cases is a testament to the trust placed in us by over 100 prescribers, scientists, PhD students and embryologists, who together provide you with valuable information, unique perspectives and value-added care to maximize your success.

WHEN TO CONSIDER IVF?

IVF is often recommended for couples who have been trying to conceive naturally for an extended period without success. According to medical guidelines, if you are under 35 and have been trying to conceive for more than a year, or if you are over 35 and have been trying for more than six months, IVF may be considered. It is also recommended in the following cases:

Fertility problems in men: If the man has fertility problems, such as low sperm count, reduced sperm mobility or structural abnormalities. In some cases, IVF can be combined with a technique called ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), which injects a sperm directly into an egg to increase the chances of fertilization.
Fertility problems in women: IVF may be considered if the woman has ovulation problems, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or if she has blocked fallopian tubes, fallopian tube lesions, severe endometriosis or other medical conditions affecting her fertility.
If previous treatments have failed: If you have already tried less invasive fertility treatments, such as ovulation induction or intrauterine insemination, without success, IVF may be a next step to consider.

Success factors: It’s important to note that the chances of IVF success vary according to different factors. The woman’s age is a key factor, as egg quality declines with age. Success rates are generally higher in younger women. Other factors such as sperm quality, uterine quality and other medical considerations can also influence IVF results.

Emotional and financial considerations: IVF can be an emotionally and financially demanding journey. It is essential to consider these aspects before committing to this treatment. Be sure to discuss the emotional implications with your partner and get adequate support throughout the process. Financially, find out about the costs associated with IVF, including medical expenses, medications and any additional procedures.

Initial consultation

The first step is an initial consultation with a fertility specialist. You’ll discuss your medical history, fertility history, family goals and available treatment options. The specialist will explain the IVF process in detail, answer your questions and assess whether IVF is the best option for you. A treatment strategy is defined.

Ovarian stimulation

Once you decide to go ahead with IVF, ovarian stimulation begins. You will receive medication to stimulate your ovaries to produce several follicles containing mature eggs. During this phase, your fertility specialist will closely monitor your ovarian response with ultrasound scans to measure the size of your follicles and regular blood tests (hormone levels).
Once the follicles containing the eggs have reached optimal size, an injection of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) to allow final maturation of the eggs and trigger ovulation.

Egg retrieval (follicular puncture)

When the follicles reach optimal size and ovulation is triggered 34 to 36 hours later, a surgical procedure called follicular puncture is performed. For your comfort, this procedure is performed under light general anaesthesia, but can also be performed under local anaesthesia or simple sedation at your request.

Using an ultrasound-guided needle, the eggs are removed from the follicles in the ovaries. This procedure generally takes around 20 to 30 minutes. The collected follicular fluids are then processed in the laboratory. On the day of the follicular puncture, your partner’s sperm sample will be used for the following steps.

Embryonic development

Recovered eggs are fertilized with sperm in the laboratoryby conventional fertilization (bringing eggs and sperm together in a culture dish) or by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where a single sperm is injected directly into each egg.

After insemination, the culture dishes containing the eggs are placed in an incubator under a controlled atmosphere of CO2 and N2 for the duration of the procedure.

Embryo selection

During embryonic development, embryos are evaluated for their quality, survival and implantation potential. The most viable and highest-quality embryos are selected for transfer to the uterus. Selection can be based on morphological criteria and other more advanced techniques, such as embryo biopsy for pre-implantation genetic analysis (PGT).

The aim is to offer the best chances of pregnancy.

Embryo transfer

Embryo transfer is a simple, painless procedure, usually performed without anesthesia. Selected embryos are transferred into the uterus using a thin, flexible catheter, guided by ultrasound. The number of embryos transferred will depend on a number of factors, including your age, the quality of the embryos and medical recommendations. After the transfer,you’ll need to rest for a short time before going home.

In certain cases (e.g. when there is a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation), the embryo transfer is deferred to another cycle. In such cases, all the goodquality embryos obtained are frozen, a procedure known as “all freeze”.

Embryo freezing (vitrification)

If you have additional embryos of good quality after transfer, they can be cryopreserved (frozen) by vitrification for future use.

This step enables you to preserve embryos for a possible future transfer cycle, avoiding the need for ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval.

Finally, the embryos are stored in special tanks called ≪ storage tanks ≫ containing liquid nitrogen at -196°C. Embryos can be stored for several years (legal period defined in Switzerland by two 5-year cycles). Embryo freezing can be used in a variety of situations (non-exhaustive list), e.g.

In the case of supernumerary embryos
Unsatisfactory endometrial quality
Couple’s choice
Inadequate progesterone levels

Post-transfer

After the transfer, your specialist will give you instructions on taking additional medications, such as hormone support, and will inform you about signs to watch out for. About two weeks after the transfer, you will take a pregnancy test to determine whether IVF was successful.

IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (FIV)

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IN VITRO FERTILIZATION (FIV)

WHEN TO CONSIDER IVF?

In practice